Handicaps dominate Thursday’s meeting at Newbury alongside some intriguing novice events. We look at the card.
Tele Red could take the opening 1m2f Class 5 Highclere Castle Gin Amateur Jockeys' Amateur Jockeys' Handicap (1.50pm) with the six-year-old arriving in solid place form. He ran well in this grade when a head second at Ripon before a third, again over this trip at Ripon a fortnight ago.
Jockey Jack Lander takes off 5lb which could be a big help to get the gelding back into the winner's enclosure. Winner of this race last year, Mrs Meader could be the main danger with an impressive four length victory in this twelve months ago.
The mare showed renewed ability a month ago when third in this handicap level at Windsor. She is beginning to prove a course specialist at Newbury and rates highly.
The 6f Class 4 Welcome To The BV Group Novice Stakes (2.20pm) looks intriguing. Double Jump was an expensive yearling purchase and ran slightly below market expectations on debut last month at Goodwood when sixth in this class over a similar journey.
That form has worked out well and the grey colt is likely to improve second up. Mafnood rates an interesting newcomer being a Kingman colt who is a half-brother to three winners so profiles well on paper.
The second and final of the novice events on the programme is the 1m Class 2 Darley EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2.50pm) on the straight mile course. Lose Yourself looks likely to maintain her progressive profile after two good efforts last season with a debut success over 7f at Newmarket in August preceding an excellent second (beaten only a head) tackling the 7f Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in October. She could be the class act in the race.
Value Added is a Royal runner who posted a good debut second on heavy ground last October at this course and distance.
The three-year-old only 1m Class 5 BetVictor Proud Partners Of Newbury Racecourse Handicap (3.25pm) looks an open and competitive handicap where Monopolise looks one of the market leaders following solid placed efforts this season.
The gelding showed plenty of ability at York last time when runner-up in a higher-grade handicap over 7f where the winner has scored again since to boost the form. Inverlochy is open to plenty of further progress after just three outings. The filly took a step forward last month when third in a Carlisle 7f maiden and now upped in distance on handicap debut may feature.
The action remains on the straight course for the 7f Class 3 Highclere Castle Gin Handicap (4.00pm). Many hold a chance on paper but the one that looks strongest is Mister Bluebird who has been in great form this campaign with two placings at Musselburgh and Ascot (6f) preceding a short-head success at Goodwood in this handicap level and over the trip on Sunday.
Backing up as a winner four days ago the five-year-old can follow up. Hickory was running well last year including an all-weather Kempton handicap victory but disappointed at that course on return. Now second up, the gelding is likely to improve.
Shobiz can land the 6f Class 4 BetVictor Handicap (4.30pm). The now five-year-old enjoyed a successful 2022 including a handicap success at Goodwood in a higher level in April before mixed efforts a month later.
He returned after almost a year off when third at Goodwood before winning here in a course and distance handicap tackling a higher class last time. He could be the one to beat again. Treacherous finished fifth in the same track and trip handicap and could feature once more.
The finale is the 1m 4f Class 5 Follow BetVictor On Twitter Handicap (5.05pm). Blindedbythelights could shine in the Berkshire sunshine with the bottom weight arriving in good form this year with a three-length success in this handicap level at Yarmouth over 1m3f last Thursday preceding a decent second on the all-weather at Lingfield over this trip on Monday.
The three runs in a week would be the concern but the three-year-old has been racing well. Hedonista may prove one of the main dangers following two promising efforts in her career with a debut second at Kempton (AW) before a success on the artificial surface at Newcastle in maiden company.
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 - TELE RED
RACE 2 - DOUBLE JUMP
RACE 3 - LOSE YOURSELF
RACE 4 – MONOPOLISE
RACE 5 - MISTER BLUEBIRD
RACE 6 – SHOBIZ
RACE 7 - BLINDEDBYTHELIGHTS
